Second Corinthians 4 Part 3 Gospel Light In Jars Of Clay

Gospel glory exposes false teachers and fills us with its transforming light.

2 Corinthians 4:1-6  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2)  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3)  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5)  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 ) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit guided the apostle Paul to show us the vast difference between deceitful false teachers and true ministers of the gospel.

False teachers attacked the character of Paul and other apostles, so that they could promote false teaching.

False teachers are like dishonest merchants who tried to mix in defective products with a few good ones, deceiving the buyer.

Christ's apostles were transparent truth tellers and were never dishonest, or deceitful. They truly desired God's best for each Christian.

Their singular mission was preaching the gospel of Christ and teaching new converts to keep all of Jesus' commandments (See Matthew 28:18-20).

Paul taught that many people's hearts are blinded by the Devil who tries to snatch away the good seed of God's Word before it can take root and produce fruit (See Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23).

The light of Christ's glorious gospel is stored in jars of clay.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7)  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

Paul now leads us to a very important truth. Each believer in Christ can be used of God to share the glorious light of Christ's gospel with other people.

It is the greatest blessing and privilege that God will use you and me to reach lost people. We have gospel light that we must shine into a sin darkened world.

Why should we preach Christ? Because through the power of the gospel we receive knowledge of the glory of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

The light of the gospel of Christ is far more glorious than that the light which God commanded to shine out of darkness during creation. 

It is beautiful to see sunrise, sunsets and the splendor of the sun each day, but it is far more pleasant and profitable when Christ's gospel shines in our heart. 

Why did Paul not commend or brag about his ministry? Because they were like us, earthen vessels of little or no worth but chosen by God for this great work. 

Christ's apostles preached the gospel and pointed lost souls to Jesus but false teachers promoted themselves and led people astray into error.

Living in the light of God's Word and putting off our old man ways. 

Ephesians 5:8-10  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9)  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Paul taught this same truth to the church at Ephesus. We used to be children of the devil walking in the darkness of sin.

Through the new birth, we are now regenerated children of God who walk as children of light. 

The Holy Spirit seeks to produce His fruit in our lives as He conforms us more and more into the image of God's Son.

Now, here is Paul's important reminder to all Christians. The light of Christ's gospel in us is compared with putting treasure into a jar of clay.

This comparison reminds us that though we are born again and have the Spirit of God indwelling us, we still have our old man, that sin nature inherited from Adam.

Thus our body of flesh and "old man" is like that vessel of clay.

The light and power of the gospel is hid in our bodies of clay.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

One of the early church fathers named John Chrysostom, was known as an excellent preacher and careful interpreter of scriptures. 

His comment on this particular text is very helpful.

“Lest any should say, How then is it that we continue to enjoy such unspeakable glory in a mortal body?" 

"Paul replies, this very fact is one of the most marvelous proofs of God’s power, that an earthen vessel could bear such splendor and keep such a treasure.”

We are weak and frail creatures, subject to fleshly passions and infirmities as other men (See James 5:17). 

We are mortal, and soon broken in pieces. God has ordered it that the weaker the vessel is the stronger its power may be, so that the gospel treasure is highly valued.

Gideon's victory achieved by using clay lanterns.

Judges 7:13-23  And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. 14)  And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 ) And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. 16)  And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. 17)  And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18)  When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 19)  So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. 20)  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. 21)  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 22)  And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath. 23)  And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 

Paul speaks of having the light of the gospel hidden in vessels of clay (our bodies) and this analogy connects with a man named Gideon.

Gideon's family was poor and not respected in Israel. Yet, God chose him to be one of their mighty judges. 

You may recall that Gideon put out a fleece and asked for the sign of the fleece to be dry while all the dew was on the ground, as a confirmation that God was going to use him.

God gave Gideon that sign and then had him sneak into the camp of the Midianites where he heard one man tell another Midianite about his dream. 

The other man interpreted his dream saying "This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host." 

Thus, Gideon was encouraged to do what God called him to do. He instructed his men to get a lamp and put them into a clay pitcher so that the light did not shine out.

Then, when they surrounded the enemy and attacked, they did so by breaking the clay vessels so that the light shined out. 

Then the enemy was frightened and confused and Gideon was victorious over them.

Gideon had his men break vessels of clay at the right time to allow their lamp's lights to shine brightly, for God's purposes.

We see how this pictures each Christian being entrusted as a witness to tell others of the gospel of Christ.

We are vessels of clay who hold the light of Christ's gospel in our heart. Oftentimes, we need to be broken in order for that gospel light to shine forth out of our lives.

For example, God may allow a physical affliction to cause us to be broken so that we fully turn to Him. He will use us as His faithful witnesses when we are broken before Him.

Thus, God must bring us to a state of brokenness so that we lean upon Him for help and in doing so, the light of the gospel shines forth into other people's lives.

I know many believers who have experienced being broken by God in order to be used by Him to share the gospel.

God's grace and power are magnified when we are weak and leaning on Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

This is a beautiful picture painted by Paul. It connects with his teaching that when we are weak is when God's grace is most sufficient and we become strengthened with His mighty power.

A flawed clay vessel can be made into a new, usable pot.

Jeremiah 18:1-6  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2)  Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3)  Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4)  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5)  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6)  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 

Paul's analogy also connects with something Jeremiah wrote about a potter and a clay vessel.

Jeremiah was told to go to a local potter's home and observe what happened as that man was throwing a pot, shaping it on his wheel.

The first vessel was marred in the potter's hand. The word "marred" means ruined, spoiled, rendered unusable or morally corrupted.

Therefore, the potter took the same lump of wet clay and reshaped it into a new, usable vessel.

In this picture, Jehovah is the potter and the first vessel being spoiled connects with Adam and Eve sinning.

Through the new birth and being regenerated by the Spirit of God a sinner can be made into a new creation in Christ. 

Thus, a sinner can become a child of God through repentant faith in Christ and then be made into a usable vessel for serving God.

This brings us back to our need to suffer affliction or enduring the purging work of God to remove the dross from our lives, so that we can better serve Him.

We are vessels of clay so that God is glorified and Christ is exalted.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Why is gospel treasure placed into vessels of clay like you and me? 

So that all who see God at work in us will give the glory to God. 

So that God receives all glory in whatever is accomplished in our lives when we share the gospel with others.

The just (those who are justified by faith in Christ) shall live by faith so that no flesh glories in the presence of God.

We are clay vessels who carry the eternal truth of the gospel with us. We must ask the Lord to remake and reshape us as often as we need it, so that our lives reflect Him.

We must ask the Spirit of God to help us mortify or put off the old man ways, so that we might serve God in newness of life.

A clay pot can be useful for a long time. May we seek to be pliable clay yielding to the careful craftsmanship of Jehovah our Potter.

Bob